Students sign up for free Muni rides by the thousands

Several thousand students, and counting, have signed up for the free Muni for low-income youth program, which will start on March 1.

The 16-month test program will give free Muni passes (on Clipper cards) to San Francisco students under 18. So far, more than 18,000 have applied, said Ed Reiskin, transportation director.

Most are from the San Francisco Unified School District, though students of private and parochial schools are also eligible.

Applications will be processed and passes issued by the end of the month. To qualify, students are supposed to be eligible for free or subsidized lunch programs. To get their free rides, students are supposed to get Clipper cards containing the pass and tag their cards whenever they board Muni. But for the first 30 days, a grace period will be in effect.

Municipal Transportation Agency officials aren’t sure how many students will use the passes or which transit lines will be most affected by the program. A process for evaluating the program and its impact on school attendance as well as transit is being prepared.

CORRECTION: The standard for qualifying for the free Muni for low-income youth program was was changed in December to the Bay Area median income, which is $103,000 for a family of four.